Siddha System is effective in treating chronic cases of liver, skin diseases especially “Psoriasis”

The Siddha System is effective in treating chronic cases of liver, skin diseases especially “Psoriasis”, rheumatic problems, anaemia, prostate enlargement, bleeding piles and peptic ulcer. The Siddha Medicines which contains mercury, silver, arsenic, lead and sulphur have been found to be effective in treating certain infectious diseases including venereal diseases. Practitioners have claimed that Siddha medicines are effective in reducing the highly debilitating problems that manifest themselves among patients of HIV/AIDS. More research into the efficacy of these medicines is presently in progress

Different kinds of skin ailments like Psoriasis,Acne,Eczema and Urticaria

Psoriasis:
Psoriasis is a chronic, genetic, non contagious skin disorder that appears in many different forms and can affect any part of the body, including the nails and scalp. The skin, in the patches that are affected, substituted it self at a much quicker rate than the rest of skin normally does.

Acne:
Acne is presentation of skin ailments which usually occurs in adolescence especially with a strong family history of allergic disorders. Severe acne can be lead to serious and permanent scaring.

Eczema:
Eczema generally appears as dry or weeping, intensely itchy skins with raised areas that look like small blisters.

Urticaria:
Urticaria refers to a group of disorders in which red patches and weals occur in the skin due to release of chemicals from mast cells.

Chinese Herbal Medicine for Psoriasis

Author : Adina Stanescu

Psoriasis is a relatively common skin disease, occurring in about 2% of the population. Onset is usually between 10 and 30 years of age, and tends to run in families. In its most common form. it presents itself with thickened patches of inflamed, red skin, covered with waxy silvery scales which tend to occur on elbows, knees, scalp, trunk, and back. This is known as plaque psoriasis. It is considered incurable by allopathic medicine, although acute flare-ups can subside, while severity and suffering vary considerably.Modern medicine treats psoriasis with ultraviolet light, topical steroid creams, tar creams, and even anti-cancer drugs such as methotrexate. While these treatments may help in the short term, they can cause rebound reactions which are more severe than the initial attack, or in the case of topical steroids, cause immediate worsening if the psoriasis is currently very active.On the other hand, Chinese herbal medicine can treat this illness completely in 60% of sufferers, and partially in the remaining 40%, over a period of several weeks.1 By the third to seventh week of treatment, there should be unmistakable reduction in symptoms, motivating the patient to persevere with the treatment until all plaques have gone.The main TCM diagnostic pattern in psoriasis is “Heat in the Blood,” and it is the pivot around which other secondary pathologies revolve. The Heat is clearly reflected in the redness of the skin lesions, as well as the often red tongue of the patient. Western medicine has identified that in psoriasis, skin cells are produced 10 times faster than normal, and this over-activity is another manifestation of excess “heat.” It is also noted that the guttate psoriasis subtype often occurs after a sore throat, which is localized invasion of Heat and Fire Poison. Unresolved, it can ‘spread’ its Heat to the skin. Unlike eczema and acne, psoriasis does not feature much Dampness in its presentation. This is shown in the lack of moisture, i.e. no weeping, crusting, or exudation. In fact, even where there are small, fluid filled pustules in pustular psoriasis, their contents are sterile.Having determined then that Heat in the Blood is the main pathology in psoriasis, the TCM practitioner must assess what co-factors are present, by looking at the visual characteristics of each patient’s skin. This step is important, and part of the reason why no generalized “psoriasis formula” can be very effective. Each patient’s presentation has to be addressed specifically.If the patient has a severe outbreak of new lesions, especially on the nails or palms and soles, recurring sore throat, and yellowish scales — in other words, if the psoriasis is very widespread and intense — it indicates Fire Poison is also present. Treatment will aim to cool the Blood and clear Fire Poison, with herbs such as Rx. Rhemannia Sheng Di Huang and Rx. Isatidis Ban Lan Gen.If plaques are covered in large amounts of scales and there is itching, which is not that common in psoriasis, this indicates Wind, and herbs like Rx. Ledebourielae Fang Feng must be added to the formula.If plaques are more purple than red, and the psoriasis is fairly inactive, Blood Stasis will be suspected. Purple, as we all know from observing bruising, is a clear indication of impaired blood circulation. This means Heat is bound with Stasis in a stubborn deadlock, manifested in this subtype’s poor response to many treatments. It can, however, respond well when herbs like Fl. Carthami Hong Hua are used in the prescription. There is a visual confirmation that the Stasis is improving in these cases: the lesions tend to enlarge slightly as they begin to heal, much as we might enlarge a knot’s surface area as we untangle it.TCM treatment for psoriasis works best in the form of herbal decoctions. This means that a formula composed of eight to 12 herbs is boiled together for about half an hour, and two cups of this liquid are drunk daily for the duration of the treatment. Lifestyle recommendations exclude anything that may add to Blood Heat, i.e. spicy foods, great mental and emotional stress, and skin damage such as tattoos and hard contact sports. 1. Statistics and training received from Mazin Al-Khafaji, internationally renowned TCM dermatologist. Adina Stanescu, Ac. D.C.H.M., treats dermatological and general health problems at her Toronto clinic. She can be reached at (416) 968-3308 or through www.thetcmclinic.com.
source : vitalitymagazine.com/node/358

Ayurvedic treatment for PSORIASIS

Psoriasis is a non-infectious, inflammatory disease of the skin. It is characterized by well-defined erythematous (reddish) plaques with large adherent silvery scales. The main abnormality in psoriasis is an increased proliferation of the skin layers due to excessive division of the cell in the basal layers of the skin. Severe itching may associate with the plaques. Dryness of the skin and silvery scaling are characteristics of this condition.
1% to 3% of the most population has Psoriasis. It is very common among Europeans and North Americans. It is often seen between 15 to 40 yrs of age.
The exact reason behind Psoriasis is unknown. There is frequently a genetic predisposition. A child with one affected parent has a 15% chance of developing the disease and this rises to 50% if both the parents are affected. Streptococcal infection of the upper respiratory tract may exacerbate the condition. Deprivation of sunlight influences this condition and mental stress plays an important role in aggravating the condition. Certain drugs like chloroquine, chlorpropamide, lithium and practaol may aggravate this condition.
The peculiar lesions will be raised and red with dry, silvery-white scaling. Size may vary from a few millimeters to several centimeters in diameter. Common sites are scalp elbows knees and lower back. Pitting of the nails is very common. Involvements of palm is not uncommon. Many may develop sero-negative inflammatory arthritis, which is characterized by multiple involvements of joints and pitting on nails.
Ayurvedic view: Many basic Ayurvedic texts have explained skin diseases, which resembles Psoriasis. According these references, Psoriasis can be considered as the vitiation of Vata and Kapha. (Two of the basic energies/humors, which maintains our body equilibrium) Accumulation of low potency poisons (Dooshi vishas), are the basic pathological changes taking place in the system. Irregular food habits, consumption of foodstuffs that cannot be eaten together (Eg: diary products with fish), excessive intake of yogurt, black gram, seafood, sour and salted items etc can activate the pathogenesis. Alcohol and tobacco consumption will act as a catalyst here. Ayurveda do emphasize on the effect of stress in the pathogenesis of Psoriasis.
Treatment: Coming to the treatment aspects of Psoriasis according to Ayurveda, it aims at the detoxification of the body or elimination of toxins from the body fluids. It is achieved by "Panchakarma" treatments.
Current schedule, comprising various treatment aspects of Ayurveda is aiming at a better control of Psoriasis. This includes internal and external medications purely of plant origin. Rough out line of this schedule is as follows. (i) Consumption of medicated ghee, considering the Dosha type of the Psoriasis and the person, for 5 to 7 days. (ii) Detoxifying, by inducing vomiting (Vamana) and purgation (Virechana). This is followed by medicated buttermilk dripping overhead (Dahara) and pasting the entire body with a paste of medicines and mud. (iii) Basthies (medicated enemas) are being done for 8 days and internal medicines like herbal concoctions; medicated ghee has to be consumed for at least 90 days.
A strict diet regime has to be followed during the entire treatment period and it is better to continue as vegetarian. Yogurt, black gram, chilies and salted thing have to be restricted. It is better to avoid refrigerated/chilled foods. Psoriatic must keep a state of mental calmness.
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The author, Dr. . K. S. NANDALAL [B.A.M.S] is a Lecturer & consultant physician at Vaidyaratnam Ayurveda College, Ollur Trichur. India. He is assisted by Dr. Reji.M.Varghese [B.A.M.S.] Lecturer & consultant physician, Vaidyaratnam Ayurveda College,Ollur Trichur. They can be reached at-drnandalal@hotmail.com